Friday, June 13, 2008

June 2008

Hi everybody:

Joe endured a fierce tropical storm in late May. There was no warning-- he and Gunter were on their way back from Nicoya when it hit. They got home safely but there was extensive water in the house and guesthouses. It appears the wind was blowing the rain sideways and the rain came in through any open window and the vents around the roof. It took two days and two people working full time to clean it up. Where we live in Nosara, there is no buffer between you and the weather. A storm like this in NY would probably just clean things up.

NY is dirty but there are pockets of nature. There is a private landscaped park near my work site which is surrounded by high buildings, with a BIG fountain in the middle—it is like being in a giant terrarium. Work is going fine. My bank account is increasingand the job is interesting enough. I am working on two articles, one on breathwork and yoga and one on moving to Costa Rica. I am reading some great literary blogs: http://www.seehowwealmostfly.blogspot.com/ , a writer in the Bay area; http://www.miminewyork.blogspot.com/ a UK writer working as a NY stripper; http://www.oliverdavies.blogspot.com/ a UK writer doing a random job search; and a writer working as a NY waiter http://waiterrant.net/. There is also a blog by a professional journalist in the Nosara area. http://www.gypsyjournalist.com/.

The president of Nature Air, one of Costa Rica’s two domestic airlines, came to the pub last week. He is considering buying property in our development. The pub is a great asset to the development—I found a similar pub in Brooklyn—Mugs Ale House- but there is nothing like the Black Sheep Pub in Costa Rica. When you are in the pub you think you are in England—and then there is the breathtaking view.

Our friends Peter and Emily are moving down from Florida and will soon be our neighbors. Their house, 100 meters from ours, is half finished. Peter is interested in “The Blue Zone” theories of vitality and our area of Costa Rica has been cited for people living long vital lives. I think it is the air; Eric, our neighbor up the road swears by the water; come and see for yourselves. When people are on the mountain they don’t want to leave so there is something.

I visited my friend Sheri (and her 3 month old) from Boston last week. She and her family live in the upscale Park Slope area of Brooklyn and pay huge rent. Sheri loves NY/hates NY ---I feel the same way—the people are great/it is too crowded, etc. I had an interesting NY experience yesterday. It was hot (97 degrees) and dirty as usual and I hated it. I went shopping in Herald Square— first I went to Macy’s and it was too big-- two buildings, designer sections, you really needed a map to find things–then I saw Old Navy across the street. Old Navy was just right-, 3 levels with huge airy ceilings, clean air due to the right amount of air conditioning, a moderate amount of people milling around, good rock music with a good sound system, etc—a great respite from the streets. I bought Joe a couple of things.

Joe will be here in exactly two months. Write, call or email if you have a minute. Love Helena (and Joe)

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